SC verdict on Cauvery broadly welcomed in Karnataka

Bengaluru: Karnataka BJP chief B S Yeddyurappa said the Supreme Court order on Cauvery has brought some relief to the people of the State as it would "partially" help in meeting the agriculture and drinking water requirements.

"The supreme court has considered our concerns partially. It will give people some relief.We would be able to comment on it only after thoroughly studying the order," Yeddyurappa said.

The State would get 14.75 TMC water more and Bengaluru would get 4.75 TMC to meet drinking water requirements, he added. Union Minister for Chemicals and Fertilisers Ananthkumar described the order "historic."

"This order has brought relief to the people of Karnataka who were anxiously waiting for the order," he said. "Though our expectations were much more than what we have been allocated, it is a matter of satisfaction that Bengaluru will get additional 4.75 TMC water," he said.

Kannada Vatal Paksha chief Vatal Nagaraj, who has been leading the Cauvery movement for many decades, said he welcomed the order. "Though the order is not entirely up to our expectations, we still welcome it.Bengaluru needed more water in view of its exponential growth," Nagaraj said.

Managing Trustee and Chief Executive Officer of Bengaluru Political Action Committee Revathi Ashok hailed the judgment, saying it will set a precedent for inter-State water sharing disputes in future. B.PAC had approached the apex court seeking priority to be accorded to drinking water on the 'principle of hierarchy of drinking water' over all other uses.

"We are extremely pleased that the judgment accorded by the supreme court while acknowledging Bengaluru city's global status has clearly articulated the 'priority for drinking water' over all other uses," Ashok said.